Metal feeder for type casting machines



Aug. 2,1938. ATWQOD 2,125,265

METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE CASTING MACHINES Filed July 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 2, 1938. L. J. ATWOCD 2,125,265

METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE CASTING MACHINES Filed July 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Leroy 'Ju liwooal Patented Aug. 2, 1938 PATENT OFFlCE METAL FEEDER FOR TYPE CASTING MACHINES Leroy J. Atwood, San Antonio, Tex.

Application July 3, 1937, Serial No. 151,906

' 4 Claims.

' This invention relates to type casting machines of the kindwherein the bar or pig of type metal is automatically fed into the pot, to maintain the molten metal in thepot at approximately a predetermined level, insuring the true operation of the machine.

An important object of the invention is the provision, of an escapement mechanism operated with each movement of the pot, to feed the bar ,or pig of type metal, means being provided for holding the escapement mechanism out of op- I eration when the molten metal in the pot reaches the desired level.

Another object of the invention is to provide .an escapement mechanism for feeding the bar or pig of type metal, which will be operated by the weight of the type metal being fed to the pot, thereby providing an automatic feed device which is not only cheap to manufacture, but one which may be readily and easily installed on standard type casting machines, eliminating "the necessity of making extensive alterations in the machine to mount the device.

With the foregoing-and other objects in View, which will appear as'the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view disclosing the usual pot of a type casting machine, and illustrating a bar or pig of type metal, as being fed into the pot.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the pot, and taken at right angles to Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the drum on which the chain which is connected with the bar or pig of type metal, is wound.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the escapement lever, illustrating the pivoted pawl that cooperates with the ratchet wheel at one end of the drum shown in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the frame of a type casting machine, and the reference character 6 designates the usual melting pot of the machine, which moves with each operation of the machine in casting.

(Cl. 22-80) cf:

The reference character I designates a bracket clamped to the frame of the machine, by means of the plate 8 and bolts 9, which extend through the plate and bracket, as clearly shown by Figure 3. This bracket extends upwardly and is provided with a hook In? at its upper end, the hook adapted to hook into the eye it carried by the pulley l2, so that the pulley is supported directly over the feed opening of the pot.

The chain, indicated by the reference charac- 10 ter 13, is formed with a hook it that hooks into an opening formed in one end of the bar or pig of metal used in forming the type, the bar being indicated by the reference character l5. It will of course be understood that this bar or 15 pig of type metal 15, extends through the feed opening of the pot, and is subjected to heat, melting the metal.

Mounted directly above the pot 6, is a frame indicated by the reference character 16, which A frame provides a support for the drum I! on which the chain I3 is wound, the drum ll being provided with a ratchet wheel l8 at one end thereof, which ratchet wheel cooperates with the escapement lever [B mounted on the shaft 20 5 which is also carried by the frame I6 and mounted directly above the ratchet wheel [8. A pivoted pawl indicated by the reference character 20' is mounted on the escapement lever l9, and is adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, under normal conditions. The escapement lever is formed with a tooth 2| disposed directly opposite to the pawl 20' and cooperates with the pawl 20 in releasing the drum, to unwind the Chain '3.

As clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, the upper end of the escapement lever I9 is connected with the coiled spring 22 which in turn has its ends secured to the frame of the machine as by means of the bolts 23 and 24. 40

A crank handle indicated by the reference character 25, is mounted on one end of the shaft of the drum I1, whereby the chain may be readily wound on the drum to properly support the bar or mg of type metal, which is being fed into the pot 6.

Mounted within the pot 6, and secured to the cover 26 thereof is a tubular guide 21 the guide being of a length to terminate in spaced relation with the normal surface level of the metal contained in the pot.

The upper end of the tubular guide 21, extends laterally as at 28, where it is secured to the under surface of the cover 26. This tubular guide provides a support for the rod 29 that has its upper end beveled to engage the ratchet wheel l8, and prevent rotary movement of the ratchet wheel when the required quantity of metal is present in the pot 6, and when the escapement mechanism is operating. This rod 29 is held into engagement with the ratchet wheel l8, by the float 30 that is carried at the lower end of the rod 29, the action of the float being to raise or lower the rod 2a in accordance with the level of the,

liquid within the tank 6. 1

In the operation of the device, assuming that the level of the molten metal within the pot 6, falls to a point to allow the float 30 to descend and move the rod 29 out of contact with the ratchet wheel I8. It follows that with each movement of the pot, during the casting operation, the escapement lever will be operated, releasing the drum and allowing the chain l3 to unwind from the drum, under the weight of the bar or ig of type metal i5. When the desired quantity of metal has been stirred into the pot 6, and the float has again moved upwardly, the upper end of the rod 29 will move into engagement with the ratchet wheel [8, locking the ratchet wheel against further rotary movement, until the level of the metal within the pot again recedes, and it is necessary to replenish the supply. It will of course be understood that this operation will continue, until the entire length of the bar or pig of type metal l5, has been used in the casting of type. V

7 Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexible pig suspending means mounted above the pot, said pig suspending means including a chain to which one end of the pig is connected, a drum on which the chain wound, an escapement mechanism including a pawl and ratchet wheel adapted to unwind the chain and feed the pig into the pot, with each movement of the melting pot, and a float controlled rod adapted to engage the ratchet wheel for restricting rotary movement of the drum under normal conditions.

of the pot, and float controlled means for preventing movement of the drum to release the chain, under normal conditions.

- 3. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, a flexible pig suspending means mounted above the pot and including a chain to which one end of the pig is connected, a drum on which the chain is wound, an escapement mechanism. operated by the movement of the pot in casting, releasing the chain to feed the pig into the pot, a tubuuar guide extending into the pot,

a rod operating through the tubular guide, a float en the lower end of the rod and adapted to float on the surface of the metal in the pot, and said rod adapted to move to a position engaging the escapement mechanism restricting movement of the drum, under normal conditions.

4. In a type casting machine having a movable melting pot, means for automatically feeding a pig to the pot, said means including a chain connected to the pig, a drum on which the chain is wound, a ratchet wheel on one end of the drum, a tubular guide member supported Within the pot, a rod operating through the tubular guide, a float on the lower end of the rod and resting on the surface of the metal within the pot, said rod engaging the ratchet wheel restricting movement of the drum under normal conditions, and an escapement mechanism operated by the Weight of the pig for lowering the pig into the pot, when the rod moves out of contact with the ratchet wheel.

LEROY J. ATWOOD. 

